ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

highest levels of both Fe and Zn, with unit regressions and non-significant deviations from regression both for Fe
and Zn., indicating it the most stable line. Seed parent 863B, found to be drought-tolerant, high general combiner for
grain yield, and highly resistant to multiple pathotypes of DM, had the next highest level of Fe (71.9 mg kg -1 ) and
had 53.1 mg kg -1 of Zn content. This line was also highly stable for both Fe and Zn content.
This stability trial was sent to nine diverse locations in different agro-ecological conditions in India under the ICAR-
ICRISAT partnership project to further investigate the stability of these lines for grain Fe and Zn content. Also,
based on two seasons' data of a 69-population trial, 18 populations with diverse grain Fe and Zn density were
identified for their stability evaluation.
KN Rai
Output target 5C.2: Information on genetics and recurrent selection efficiency for grain Fe and Zn available
(2009)
Activity 5C2.1: Conduct genetical studies and recurrent selection for grain Fe and Zn contents and develop
mapping populations
Milestone 5C.2.1.1: Inheritance of Fe and Zn and relationship between the parental lines and hybrids for these
traits determined (KNR/RB/KLS, 2009)
Genetics of grain Fe and Zn content: Recent research has identified several pearl millet breeding lines with high
levels of gain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content, and large variability for these traits in the improved breeding lines and
populations. Utilization of this variability in breeding hybrid parents and populations with enhanced levels of these
micronutrients can be more effective following efficient breeding methodologies based on the nature of inheritance.
Genetics of these traits has not been reported so far in pearl millet. In an initial attempt in this direction, 10 inbred
lines with a wide range of Fe and Zn contents were crossed in a diallel fashion (including reciprocals). The resulting
90 F 1 s and 10 parents were evaluated during 2005 rainy season and 2006 summer seasons. Sib-mated grains were
used for laboratory analysis of grain Fe and Zn content using dry ashing and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
method at the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
Entry × season interaction was significant, but it was of negligible order. Reciprocal effect was non-significant for
both grain Fe and Zn content. Therefore, means over the reciprocal crosses and the seasons were subjected to halfdiallel
analysis. The genetic component analysis indicated absence of epistasis for both traits, the Wr-Vr graph
revealed presence of partial dominance for grain Fe and Zn content. The predictability ratio measured by
2σ 2 gca/(2σ 2 gca + σ 2 sca) was around unity for both grain Fe (0.86) and Zn content (0.88), implying preponderance of
additive gene action. Also, there was highly significant positive correlation between the mid-parental values and
mid-parent heterosis (r = 0.79; P